Apple sold a jaw-dropping 74.5 million iPhones last quarter en route to record revenues, profit

Apple cruised to yet another record-setting quarter thanks in part to strong sales of its larger-screened iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The Cupertino-based company on Tuesday revealed it sold a jaw-dropping 74.5 million iPhones during its most recent quarter – nearly doubling the number of phones it sold in the previous quarter.

Analysts expected Apple to sell just 65.7 million units. The previous record for iPhones sold in a quarter was 51 million during the same quarter a year ago.

For the quarter, Apple reported revenues of $74.6 billion with a profit of $18 billion, or $3.06 per share – the company’s highest quarterly revenue and profit in history. Analysts were expecting $67.69 billion, or $2.60 a share.

Elsewhere, Apple sold 21.4 million iPads which is down from the 26 million sold during the year-ago quarter. The company also sold 5.52 million Macs during the holiday quarter, slightly up from the 4.8 million units sold last year during the holidays.

Two factors led to Apple’s record quarter: consumer demand for the company’s first batch of large-screen iPhones and Apple’s heavy push in China. Revenue was up 70 percent in China alone, leading some to estimate that Apple is now the top smartphone maker in the country.

For the current quarter, Apple expects it will take in revenues of $52 billion to $55 billion – right in line with analysts’ forecast of $53.79 billion.